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must be an injury Didn't look injured. Asked to be subbed out, so unless he's an idiot it was probably an injury.

What storm? Chelsea have done nothing outside of corners. We have been poor with the ball but so have they.

Immense? Really? Immense is a bit far, but definitely our best player once again.

Don't think Santon has had much to do but agree with the rest. Remy can't use his pace there and Sissoko can't use his drive on that right hand side. Need to get Benny on for Shola and move Gouff up top and Remy + Benny on his sides.

Oh god and he does that.

Tiote having such a good game again.

They are there for the taking. They're playing really badly. Starting Sola might actually cost us.

Shola against Chelsea? Hope he gets a brace.

The official match thread. Sometimes you succeed Mike.

I don't agree. His PSG have drawn way too many games and he's been invisible for way too many games to be considered even a top 5 player. Take away Suarez suspension and he's been a better player. Cavani is having his way with Ligue 1 defenders whenever he gets a chance. 9 goals and for me he is a better player than Ibra as well. Ibra is a spectacular player and therefore gets way more credit than he deserves. He's a top 5 striker in the world, but the best player in the world? As for Ronaldo I like him as a player, but he's not even been the best in his league this season. Diego Costa has been far more impressive than him. If we are going purely by this season Messi has scored as many goals as Ronaldo excluding penalties and his team is top of the league. (remember that Messi has played over 250minutes less than Ronaldo in the La Liga this season) Also if anything this must come down to Messi or Ribery. It's over the whole of 2013 and both have been the best players. In my opinion anyways.

Sorry, meant to say Balague's book about Guardiola He's playing wherever he's always played. Messi has only himself to blame at the minute, you can see that he's unhappy even when winning since he's not scoring. Really selfish. Messi does seem like a bit of a c***. He basically forced out Zlatan and Villa and is by all accounts a prick to his teammates. Yeah because Ibrahimovic has such a great track record of not being a confrontational personality and frequently moving clubs, only when he was confronted with a villain like Messi Villa wasn't forced out. He just got a significant leg break and sadly went from being a world class forward to a just a pretty good one. Zlatan was forced out because Messi couldn't accept playing on the wing. This is something Guardiola says in his own book. Guardiola hasn't wrote a book Sorry meant to say Balague's biography of Guardiola Have you read the book? Pretty sure those quotes were from a garbage made up article in Bild. ? This is something Ibrahimovic has said himself.

He's playing wherever he's always played. Messi has only himself to blame at the minute, you can see that he's unhappy even when winning since he's not scoring. Really selfish. Messi does seem like a bit of a c***. He basically forced out Zlatan and Villa and is by all accounts a prick to his teammates. Yeah because Ibrahimovic has such a great track record of not being a confrontational personality and frequently moving clubs, only when he was confronted with a villain like Messi Villa wasn't forced out. He just got a significant leg break and sadly went from being a world class forward to a just a pretty good one. Zlatan was forced out because Messi couldn't accept playing on the wing. This is something Guardiola says in his own book. Think that's something Zlatan wrote in his book.

This season? Or this year? Because in the last 15 game he was fit last season he scored in 14 games in the La Liga scoring a total of 19goals. In this season he's reached 8 already + 4 in two in the CL. He's been injured a lot, but individually he is still easily the best player in the world. Then you have to argue whether Ribery deserves it more for having won more things, but individually he's still a level above the rest. He's still the best footballer in the world. But this season, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic have shown more world-class quality than Messi. I don't think that's especially debatable IMO. Ibrahimovic? Ronaldo? What? Both Messi and Ribery are levels ahead of both this season. What has Ronaldo done more than Messi? Neil you know better than this. I don't necessarily disagree, but they're under a new manager with some players getting older and their best player injured quite a lot. Anything other than thinking they've been excellent considering the circumstances is ridiculous. Look at Real, they're nowhere near their level at the moment and got outplayed for 50-60minutes just a week ago. I think Neymar and Messi will shine soon enough if both can be fit.

I don't think he's lazy, I agree with his defensive roles, what I don't agree with is his selfishness in terms of rather look to shoot than pass lately. His decision making has usually always been class, but lately it's like he's getting frustrated for not scoring in every game.

He's playing wherever he's always played. Messi has only himself to blame at the minute, you can see that he's unhappy even when winning since he's not scoring. Really selfish. Messi has been selfish and lazy since Pep left its not anything new.... its also a big part of the reason they were so defensively poor by comparison no pressing from the front anymore... He needs to realise that he needs to be doing a shift for the team and can't just stand around.... not saying he should run back to his own box but at least press the ball. Respect for Martino for realising this and getting the best out of his other forwards and make Barca as a team less predictable on the whole. The important thing is they're winning and players like Alexis, Neymar and Pedro seem comfortable with their roles in the team.

This season? Or this year? Because in the last 15 game he was fit last season he scored in 14 games in the La Liga scoring a total of 19goals. In this season he's reached 8 already + 4 in two in the CL. He's been injured a lot, but individually he is still easily the best player in the world. Then you have to argue whether Ribery deserves it more for having won more things, but individually he's still a level above the rest.

He doesn't play there though, he drifts there as he's done before, he's still playing centrally. He's just drifting more to the right in order for Neymar to get more space in the left. Its not like he's playing as a right-winger. He's still the same false nine.

He's playing wherever he's always played. Messi has only himself to blame at the minute, you can see that he's unhappy even when winning since he's not scoring. Really selfish.

Dani Alves having a nightmare today.

:lol: :lol:

Føøtibåar on Sweden Street is probably your best bet. Does a cracking Elkburger with lingonberries Thanks! I'll look it up Any O'Learys bar will most certainly be showing it. Not so sure, but ask Nobody maybe the place he works/worked at is showing it.

Auro. Rightback for Brazil u-17. Remember this name. Only player that looks certain for a bright future from this squad. Some good players there but he looks absolute class at this age already. Seems so mature in his playing style and comfortable with the ball a la Marcelo.

The New York Times piece about this is excellent.

No way man He's about 5ft 3 ffs. He'd be s*** in net.

I'm not sure he plateaued since his form declined before the Confed, but I do agree with the rest. He's definitely getting better every game and it must be a lot thanks to playing with better players every day. Like I said, surprised by how fast he's adapted and performed. That was an assumption more than anything else, i shouldn't have spoken in facts like i knew. The only thing i know about Brazilian football comes from the thread on here. Its funny though not only has he performed excellently he's made those around him perform better too.... haven't seen Sanchez play this well since Udinese days and i do think Neymar is a part of the reason. Like you said, it looks like he's made the others better as well. Something he does well though is that he can fill in for Messi as well. Did an excellent job against Celtic without Messi and even though Xavi and Iniesta were having their worst games in years there he did an excellent job and basically guided them to victory. Something he needs to do better though is to stop looking for Messi all the time. Sometimes he has to just shoot, he's proven he's not a selfish player and just has to let go of the mentality of always looking for the pass first. I hope to see him continue to thrive under this environment and to get more goals as well as avoid any serious injuries. I think he's become the most vital part of the national team over the last couple of months and really fulfilling his potential.